Ignition arrangement for internal-combustion engines and other purposes.



H. A. HUMPHREY4 v IGNITION ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES. APPLICATION FILED MAYII, 190s. RENEWED JULY 2. 1917 1 ,258,335. Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

I91 3 SHEETS-SHEET I- H. A. HUMPHREY. IGNITION ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY II. I908. RENEWED JULY 2. 1917.

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IGNITION ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYII, I908- RENEWED JULY 2. 1911.

1,258,335; Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' UNITED sTArEsrnrENT OFFICE.

HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HUMPHREY GAS PUMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

IGNITION ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 11, 1908, Serial No. 432,171. Renewed July 2, 1917. Serial No. 178,250.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 38 Victoria street, Westminster, in the county of London,,England, consulting engineer, have invented certain new and useful Ignition Arrangements for Internal- Combustion Engines and other Purposes of which the following is a specification.

This invention, which originally formed a part of my application Serial No. 411304, relates to apparatus for determining the ignition of gaseous mixtures in internal combustion engines and the like, of the kind in which the pressure of the compressed charge is allowed to act upon a small pressure motor which in turn controls the ignition circuit. In previous apparatus of the kind, the ignition generally occurs when a predetermined pressure is attained, this pres sure being fixed for all charges, although in some cases means have been proposed by which the pressure whereat theignition is to occur, could be adjusted, but even in these cases the pressure at which the ignition occurs is constant or fixed for each adjustment.

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby ignition may be effected within a considerable range of pressures but may not occur before the compression pressure has attained its maximum.

The invention consists of means whereby the occurrence of the ignition is made to depend upon the compression pressure having reached the maximum incidental to each particular charge.

The invention also; consists of means whereby the ignition is made to occur within fixed ranges of pressure and whereby such ranges may be adjusted,

The accompanying drawings illustrate several modifications of the apparatus constructed according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating one construction.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of another form.

Figs. 3 and 4 show details connected therewith drawn to an enlarged scale, being respectively an elevation and section of the slider and guide-way.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a side elevation and plan of another construction.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively side and end sectional detail views of the last named construction drawn to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2', showing a small pressure motor applied thereto and connected with the engine.

In carrying out the invention according to one construction, a Bourdon pressure gage, or similar type of pressure-indicating device is used as the small motor which is to be actuated by the pressure of the gaseous mixture in the internal combustion engine. For this purpose an elastic tube a attached to the casing a of an ordinary pressure indi cating device communicates in some suitable way, as by the valved duct a with the compression end of the engine cylinder f and is Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

suitably connected at its free end, for instance by the linkage a and toothed sector [1- with a lever a attached to a spindle a mounted on the casing a andcarrying a pinion a which meshes with the sector a].

The lever a is adapted to make or break an electric circuit f in any suitable manner. For example, in one simple form, illustrated diagrammatically in. Fig. l and-adapted to produce only one spark at the moment of.

breaking contact in aprimary circuit, the

. outer end of the lever a is arranged to extend between stops Z) 0 on a slider d. The rearward stop 7) of this slider is insulated, while the forward stop 0 is of conductive material. The forward stop 0 is preferably divided, so as to form two contacts, which are adapted to be bridged by a small contact spring 6 on the end of the lever a so as to complete the electric circuit containing the primary of a coil as hereinafter described.

The slider 03 is adapted to slide on a suitable guide, fitted with conductive strips f f with which the contacts of the forward stop I; can beelectrically connected, as for instance, by rubbing contacts, such as small springs g and g or otherwise. At the beginning of a compression stroke or period the lever a is in contact with the rearward stop, as indicated at Fig. 1, but as the pressure of the mixture increases, the lever moves over to. the forward stop 0 and then,

. on a continued increase in pressure, the lever a carries the sllder 03 along the guideuntilthe maximum compression pressure is at tained. Current can thus pass as long as the lever engages the forward stop and electrically connects the two portions thereof, but immediately the engine piston com- 5 mences its outward stroke or the pressure in the combustion chamber having attained a maximum begins to decline, the resulting slight decrease in pressure causes the lever to recede from the forward stop 0 as indicated at II, Fig. 1, the slider d being held by slight friction to the guide, and tending to remain at the highest point to which it has been moved. On the lever a thus breaking contact, the secondary 'coil f wound about the primary coil, produces a spark at the ignition plug 7" in the compression end of the cylinder f in a well-known manner.

Following the ignition there is of course a sudden increase of pressure, due to explosion, and then a decrease of pressure while the gases are expanding and doing work. During such expansion the lever recedes, and the slider which is arranged to give some lost motion, is also caused to recede later by engagement between the lever and the rearward top. \Vhile the two parts are in these relative positions, there is no electric contact, as the rearward stop is insulated. On the next compression period, the lost motion is first taken up, and the lever again comes into contact with the forward stop of the slider, restablishing elec tric contact in the primary circuit, and the cycle is repeated. In this simple arrange ment, no spark passes when the contact is made, but only when the contact is broken; thus the spark passes only when the combustion gases are just slightly falling 'away from'their maximum pressure and again at 40 the beginning of the expansion stroke, for instance, in position III, Fig. 1, but in the latter case the spark is not utilized, but on the other hand, it does no harm.

In carrying out the invention according to another construction, using the same type of gage or other small motor, but in a case where a number of sparks are to be 'produced by means of a trembler coil, the timing is brought about by a somewhat similar arrangement as indicated for example in Figs. 2 and 4. In this case the lever a. is arranged so as not to be in electrical contact when it is pushing the slider (l in either di rection, but only when it is passing between thesetwo relative positions. Both the forward and rearward stops 0 and are of insulating material, the two electric contact pieces h i being arranged in a position between the two stops. The slider is adapted to move over a guide-way as in the first form of the invention, which guideway is provided with metallic strips 7 and f suitably connected in the electric circuit f and the contacts 72. i on the slider are adapted to to placed in ele ical..contact with these strips by rubbing contacts 6 or otherwise. The contact i is shown connected to the respective strip f by a conductive piece and a bolt Z, the head on of which rubs against the strip f and the contact h is connected by 70 spring 9 to strip f. The slider (l is of insulating material. At the end of the expansion period the lever has been pulling back the slider, and as compression begins, the lever passes fronrthe rearward stop I) over the electrical contact pieces h i. As no spark is required at this time, the electrical contacts are arranged to be out of circuit, for instance, conductive strips 7 and f, on the guideway are arranged only on one part thereof, so that when the slider is in its initial position indicated at I (Fig. 2), corresponding with low pressure'in the combustion chamber, the electrical contactsh i on the slider 61 are dead. Thus, when the lever first passes over them at the beginning of' a compression period, no spark is pro duced, the lever a then passing over to the insulated forward stop 0 and carrying the slider (5 around the guideway until the maximum compression pressure is attained (II, Fig. The lever a. then ceases to push forward the slider, and as the pressure falls slightly, the lever (1 passes over the electrical contact pieces he as indicated at II, Fig. 2, thereby starting the current in the primary and causing the electrical trembler to produce a succession of sparks until ignition occurs, and the pressure again rises, causing the relative displacement between 'the lever and the contact pieces and breaking the circuit.

By arranging that the portion of the path or guideway of the slider throughout which the electrical contact is included in the circuit and determining by the simple device of allowing rubbing contacts which begin and end on the desired points, these points may be so chosen that they exclude low pressure and high pressure and only include those points which correspond with the desired range of compression pressures. There would be no sparks passing when the lever passes over the electrical contact pieces 71. 'i at the beginning of the compression period (I, Fig. 2), or at the beginning of the 'expansion period (III, Fig. 2). That is to say, the contact strip 7 and f on the guideway, in the form of the invention just described, may be limited to a particular seg ment corresponding with the desired range of compression pressures, the remainder of the guideway being insulated, so that when the slider is in the positions corresponding with the lower pressures where no ignition is required, or to the high pressure occurring after explosion, also when no ignition is required, it is situated upon the insulated portion n of the guidew'ay. The relation between the conductive portions 7' and f and I the insulated portion 12. may be so chosen as entirely to avoid pre-ignition on the part of the igniter. I

It will be seen that the guideway and the contacts on the slider constitute one portion of a switch adapted to be closed during a fixed or adjustable range of pressure and in circuit with the other portion of the switch, the lever a and contacts h, iwhich times the sparking at the ignition plug in the manner described. It is to be understood that the form of slider and of switch may be variously modified to suit the type of gage or pressure motor employed. The movements of .the motor. (which in the following exampie is the piston of'an indicator but may be a diaphragm or pressure gage as before) may be directly or indirectly, through levers, communicated to a slider or contact piece, for instance, as illustrated in Figs. 5-8. This apparatus is adapted to be fitted to a Darkes motion indicator, 0 being the piston rod. A plate p is carried by the barrel of the indicator and from this project two metal pillars Q and 4' which are insulated relatively to each other. A light lever s is supported by a pivot '21 atthe top of the pillar 9' so that it can rotate in a plane parallel to the axial plane of the indicator. In

its mid-position this lever is horizontal. The

' arm of the lever s nearer the piston 0 of the indicator carries a pin t the axis of which is horizontal, and a secondary lever a which is also of light section, can rotate on this pin in a plane which passes through the axis of the indicator piston. The piston rod 0 of the indicator is-attached to the lever u i by a sleeve w. The end of thelever a farther from the piston is provided ith .a metal strip h to which is. fixed the small insulated block 3 Another metal strip 2' is fixed to the block y but is insulated under normal conditions from the strip it. The lever to at the end farther from the piston of indicator carries a small ball 2 which works in a groove formed between the metal strips h and i and insulator y. The lever to may be rotated around the pin 23 relatively to lever s and the ball will travel in its groove from one end to the other of the metal strip it, limited in its motion by two stops 3 and 4 attached to the lever s. During the time the ball is in contact with the metal strip 2' electrical contact is made be tween 2? and h. The insulated pillar r carries a spring 5 which presses against the strip 6 of the insulated block 3 the surfaces of; which are continuous. The pressure of this spring against the surfaces mentioned maybe adjusted and also the point of contact maybe raised or lowered by turning the.

milled nut 6. One terminal of a battery in circuit 7 is connected at 7 with th pillar g, the other terminal of the battery is connected at 8 with the pillar 13a suitable tremwill be noticed that the ball 2, contact 2', and

contact h, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, perform the same func tions as the spring e, contact h and contact a respectively in the previously described modification.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows: Assumingcompression is about to'be commenced, the piston rod 0 is in its lowest position, and the .lever a is pressing against the top stop 3. As the pressure on the piston increases owing to the compressing of the combustible mixture the piston rises, carrying with it the end of the lever u, attached to it. The pressure exerted by spring 5 against the surface in contact with it is such that the lever s momentarily remains stationary, the result being that the lever a, being pivoted at 15, rotates from the topstop 3 to the bottom stop 4, the ball at the end traveling in its groove and passing over the strip 17. The height of the spring 5 must be previously regulated so that during this motion it is not in contact with the strip i, and, consequently, no electrical current flows while the ball is crossing over the strip i. The piston continues to rise, and as the lever u is pressing against the bottomstop i and cannot rotate any farther relatively to pin 2? it carries the end lever s with it, this lever rotating, and everything connected with it, around the pivot c, and themetal strip 6 is brought into contact with the spring 5. Finally the piston gets to the position corresponding with maximum compression pressure, and then the pressure beginning to fall again, which may be due to the return stroke of the engine, the piston of the indicator begins to fall. The lever 14 now rotates around the pin t because the spring 5 exerts suliicient pressure against the surfaces in contact with it to keep lever s stationary, and the lever it passes from contact with the stop 4 to the stop 3, the ball 2 immediately passing over the strip 2', and as now the spring 5 is in contact therewith, the electrical circuit with the battery and the coil is completed, and by means of a suitable device, such as a sparking plug introduced in the circuit of the secondary coil, a series of sparks is obtained to ignite the combustible mixture. Ex plosi-on having occurred, the pressure immediately rises and the piston rod 0 of the indicator rises to its highest position, first causing lever u to pass from the stop 3 to the stop 4; and then causing the whole arrangement to rotate with lever 8 around pivot o. The part of metal strip i which comes into contact with spring 5 is of such a length as corresponds with a certain travel of the indicator piston, which again corre sponds with a certain range of pressure. Both below and above this range of pressure the spring 5 will not be in contact with the strip and only in this range of pressure, the beginning of which may be varied by raising or lowering the spring, can an electrical current pass. The explosion pressure will be above this range, and although immediately after the explosion the indicator piston begins to return, consequently carrymg the lever u from stop 4 once more to stop 3, no further sparking is obtained, and lever to continues in contact with the stop 3 until the piston finally arrives at bottom positipn again, ready for. a repetition of the c e e.

To make this apparatus rather more delicate, the known device of a diflerential spring controlling the indicator may be employe so that for a range correspondlng with a little in excess of the maximum compression pressure a light spring may be used and a stronger spring to take up the explosion pressure.

Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim 1. Ignition means for compressed charges of varying pressures, including an ignition circuit, fixed contact strips connected therewith, two movable contact terminals cooperating therewith to close the ignition circuit, a motor actuated by the change in pressure of the charge for moving said contact terminals, said contact terminals being arranged to close the ignition circuit, after the compression pressure has reached a maximum incidental to each particular charge.

2. Ignition means for compressed combustible charges of varying pressures, including an ignition circuit, fixed contact strips connected therewith, two movable contact terminals cooperating therewith to close the ignition circuit, a motor actuated by the change in pressure of the charge for moving said contact terminals, said contact terminals being arranged to close the ignition circuit at approximately the end point of compression of each particular charge.

3. Ignition means for compressed combus tible charges of varying pressures, including an ignition circuit, fixed contact strips connected therewith, two movable contact terminals cooperating therewith to close the ignition circuit, a motor actuated by the change in pressure of the charge for moving said contact terminals, said contact terminals being arranged to close the ignition circuit at approximately the end point of compression of each particular charge, and means for adjusting the range of pressures effective for causing said ignition.

4:. Apparatus for efiecting ignition of a compressed combustible charge in an internal combustion engine, an electric circuit, a. sparking device in said circuit, means operated by the changes of pressure of the charge comprising a two-part switch actuated by the pressure operated means, the said parts being moved relatively to each other so that one part is closed during a fixed range of pressure and is electrically connected momentarily with the other part so as to close the circuitafter the compression pressure has attained its maximum and thereby cause a spark.

5.Apparatus for effecting ignition of a compressed combustible charge in an internal combustion engine, an electric circuit, a sparking device in said circuit, a device external to the cylinder for controlling the circuit, said device comprising a two-part switch, pressure operated means for actuating the switch, the said parts being moved relatively to each other so that one part is closed during a fixed range of pressure of the charge and is electrically connected momentarily with the other part so as to close one of the circuits after the compression pressure has attained its maximum and thereby cause a spark.

6. Apparatus for effecting ignition of a compressed combustible charge in an inter nal combustion engine, an electric circuit, a sparking device in said circuit, means oper ated by the changes of pressure of the charge, a two-part switch actuated by the pressure operated means, the said parts being moved relatively to each other so that of the charge has attained its maximum and thereby cause a spark, and means for adj usting the said range of pressure effective for controlling the circuit as specified.

7. Apparatus for effecting ignition of a compressed combustible charge in an inter nal combustion engine, an electric circuit, a sparking device in said circuit, means oper ated by the changes of pressure of the charge, a two-part switchactuated by the pressure operated means, the said parts being moved relatively to each other so that one part is closed during a fixed range of pressure and is electrically connected momentarily with the other part so as to close one of the circuits after the compression pressure has attained its maximum and therebycause a spark, and means for adjusting the range of pressure efiective for controlii 0 the circuit as specified.

8. Ignition means for compressed combustible charges of varying pressures includ-' ing an ignition circuit, fixed contact strips connected therewith, a movable contact bridge cobperating With said strips to close the ignition circuit, a motor actuated by the chan 'e in pressure of the charge for moving said bridge and arranged to actuate said bridge to close the i "nition circuit after the compression has reac ed a maximumincidental to each particular charge;

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH MILLARD, J. P. CRAWLEY. 

